News

Students at a Paying for College Bus Tour stop, Reading PA

The Sallie Mae Fund donates to local eighth grade career day

Arcade N.Y., Oct 3, 2003—The Sallie Mae Fund today donated $2,400 to the Wyoming County Business Education Council in support of its county-wide Eighth Grade Career Day. The event, which was held today at Attica Central School, attracted more than 800 students, representing six school districts.

The donation from The Sallie Mae Fund helped students from Pioneer Central School in Yorkshire, N.Y. attend the career day and underwrote one of the four keynote speakers for the day, Mr. Jeff Yalden. Mr. Yalden is a motivation speaker with a tremendous ability to relate to youth. His presentations focus on the importance of external influences—how they shape character and the choices we make—and on building a positive self-image, as well as on the importance of setting goals. Mr. Yalden’s philosophy is “Play Like a Champion Today” with character, class, respect, and unselfishness.

“The Sallie Mae Fund is proud to support the children of Wyoming County," said Susan Corsini, chairman of The Sallie Mae Fund board. “Our goal is to help more children access higher education. By helping these students better understand the role education plays in their future career choices, the Wyoming County Business Education Council is providing early awareness of the importance of post-secondary education.”

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission—to increase access to a post-secondary education for America’s children—by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education. Additionally, The Sallie Mae Fund encourages Sallie Mae employee volunteerism and community service.

Two employees of Pioneer Credit Recovery—Candi Snyder and Tammy Jones—presented, on behalf of The Sallie Mae Fund, an enlarged check to the Wyoming County Business Education Council at the career day.

Founded in 1980, Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. is one of the nation's leading debt management agencies with a reputation for high ethical standards, quality customer service and proven success. The company is one of the leading collection service providers for multiple large federal contracts including the U.S. Department of Education and also performs delinquency and default services for financial (bank cards and loans) consumer and education collections portfolios. The company was acquired by Sallie Mae in January 2002, and has grown to more than 650 employees occupying two facilities in Western New York.

“We appreciate The Sallie Mae Fund’s commitment to the communities where Sallie Mae employees live and work,” said Sharon Grugel, executive director, Wyoming County Business Education Council. “This is a wonderful investment in the future of our community.”

The Wyoming County Business Education Council is part of the Wyoming County Government, with offices is located in the Village of Perry. Wyoming County Business Education Council serves the residents of Wyoming County.

The Sallie Mae Fund, a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae, achieves its mission—to increase access to a post–secondary education for America's students—by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education, prepare families for their investment, and bridge the gap when no one else can. For more information visit www.salliemaefund.org.